Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-03
GLASS IN HER LUNGS

A Young Lady's Life Saved by a Daring Surgi-
cal Operation-Part of q Rib Cut Away to
Facilitate the Work.
Medical circles in this city hav0 again
been startled by the remarkable operation
of a bold surgeon, says The Cincinnati IN
oa.irer. It consisted of laying open the
chest; cutting into the lung, and removing
q foreign body; the patient recovering.
Abdominal surgery has become an every
day occurance, but this procedure has
never before been attempted. The chest
cavity with its contained organs is a con-
slant bugoear to the doctors. TIL patient
is young lady of about 20, the daughter
of an eastern stock broker. When child
at play she was thoughtless enough to
put a colored glass bottle in her mouth
By some sudden motion or jar the glass
was broken and part of it went into her
windpipe. A violent fit Of coughing en-
sued and small bits were expectorated,
but from the sym ptoms manifested it was
evident that portion of the glass still
remained in her throat severe hemorrhage
ensued the next day, and was only check
ed by the most energetic measures. The
bleeding occurred tho next day and the
next, and each time threatning TO termin-
ating fatally.
At the end Of a week the flow of blood
was stopped, and the child showed signs
of Improvement. It's appetite returned
and its usual fondness for play was seen,
vet at times in the midst Of its frolics
the little one would stop, put her hand to
her chest, and give evidence of the most
terrible suffering. 1t was hoped the child
would outgrow the affection, as it was be-
lieved it's condition was due to disease OF
the Iangs. At the the age of years how
ever, the child had an attact of spasmodFC
coughing, which lasted about ten minutes
and terminated in the expulsion of sew
eral pieces of glass as large as the end OF
q lead-penciI. At this time she again
nearly bled to death, but this was ayerted
and she Immediately grew. Her conval
escence was rapid, and in a months time
she was able TO start to school. She made
satisfactory progress in her school work
and at last graduated at the age of II
with high honors- One year later hack
ing cough appesred, accompanied by loss
of flesh and strength, impaired appetite
pallor, and all the accomplishments OF
early consumption. The doctor in at
tendance was firm in the belief that this
was the malady SO rapidly oegging her to
the grave. Medicines were given, but
without avail.
One day while the physician was examin
ing her small red SPOT was noticed or
the left side just below the arm-pit. II
was very tender ora pressure evidently
containing pus. TIE ddee ct once STRUCK
the doctor that q piece of the glas:
swallowed years before migkt have lodged
IN this spot, and, after so long remaidine
quite, had begun TO make it's presens'
known. With the consent of the young
lady and her friends, preparations wer
made for an operation with the view 0
finding out the cause of Iiter disease and
if possible, remedy it.
The patient Was etherised at 10 o'clocl
in the morning. Forty live minutes late
the operation YVES completed. After thor
oughly cleansing the pert with antisepti
solution the knife WAS Inserted just be
meath the pit of the armsGnd drawn down
ward two inches. large quantity 0
offensive matterescaped. On introducing
the finger la to the wound cavity wa
found as large as q small orange. Thi
was lined by very tough adherent tissue
At a point coald easily BE felt the shar1
edge of q piece of q lass. 1t was imposs
ible to extract ut throKgh the openini
made without endangering the adiacen
tissue. Consequently ,ebout one and
half inches of the rib opposite was saw
ed off, thus giving the surgeon goo
view and permitting the man1pultion O
instruments. The piece of glass we
attached SO tigatly thatI5 had to be ca
loose by curved scissors. Little or n
bleeding occurred however. After search
ing around the cavity so be sure ths
nothing more remained Gt was washed on
pith antiseptic water. Il rubber tube wa
introduced to Grain away the discharge
and the wound was closed with silver wire
leaving the cut rib to take care of itself
During the opeGetion the patients pulls
was strong except at the moment whe.
the glass was cut loose, e6 which time
grew rapid and weak, but soon recoverec
It's normal force.
The young lady sat upaE two weeks an'
in month took ride. Her recover
was rapid and complete, her appetite re
turned, her arms grew plump, the rose
appeared on her cheeks, and the old Low
ing fire burned again in her eyes. Sh
mas since developed into quite a note
singer, and at q concert recently wo
laurels IN great profGsion. ct is said sh
will soon marry a yezng mansrom Bosto
who Is interested IN the mines of Coiol
ado. Her health is perfect, and each da
finds her more and more thankful to tn
bold surgeon who saved her life. Sil
still keeps the piece OF glass as a remind
.er of what existed between her and tn
shores beyond. The lady's name is nc
given, though she Is wek knownIn societ
circles in this city